The Complete DIY Guide to Building a Guitar Neck (WITHOUT SPECIAL TOOLS) Part 2

Рет қаралды 29,060

Жыл бұрын

This is the easiest way to make a guitar or bass neck using whatever tools you have available. Even if you don't have all the tools I'm showing in this video, you'll at least get some inspiration for how you can do this with whatever tools you do have. There's no right or wrong way to do this, as long as you achieve the same end result. So rock what you got!
Here are the things I mention in this video:
Radius sanding block: amzn.to/3GvRpAs
Jester Jumbo fret wire: amzn.to/3jKq9oU
Stewmac fret nippers: amzn.to/3IaIuWD
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Пікірлер: 96

@El_Padre_Guitars Жыл бұрын

What's great with Dan is nothing is staged. He said he was going to make a neck. He made a neck. He made some mistakes. He rolled with them. This enables those learning to make guitars to give themselves permission to make mistakes, roll with them and learn from them. Never let the pursuit of perfection be the enemy of perfectly fine!

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

Amen 🙌

@smollande 10 ай бұрын

This video is as close to a dummies guide to neck building as you can ever hope to find. I really appreciated how he was like dont sweat the small stuff just make something that works. He didnt edit out the mistakes he made too - I mean most people would want to look good and do it but no he turned those into learning points and told us how to avoid/ fix those problems. What a guy. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the world and may God bless you with a successful channel!

@GhostSC359 Жыл бұрын

Dan, if I may say, your greatest strength is how natural and you are. Allowing room for mistakes, self-irony, and no theatricals. It's a pleasure watching you and I've learned tons and tons of valuable information, you've got yourself a new subscriber. Thank you and keep doing what you're doing!

@gitbox 16 күн бұрын

I made my own radius block cheaply by laying my router on its side on some scrap wood. I measured out 12 inches from a hole in the board (bolted to my workbench ao it pivots) to the end of the router bit. I made one pass at a time on a block, moving it up after each pass

@Hndsmstrngr1 Жыл бұрын

I've always done maintenance and adjustment work on my instruments, but I'm tired of paying people to do half ass fret work that's my next goal is to perfect my technique so I really appreciate your videos especially how to build your own tools affordably and tried and true methods of getting it right the first time. Not sure which is cheaper buying a cheap ready-made neck or a pawn shop bass guitar for 100 bucks but I figure I will practice some crap before I start dialing in some of my vintage instruments and some Modern stuff much less so charging people for work. So thank you much, I love your site. Keep on keep it on making quality and affordable instruments for people

@franckydookie 3 ай бұрын

The real question is why didn't I subscribe to this channel sooner ? I love the "I'm not a luthier but someone who have hands and a brain" thing haha I'm totally like that. This neck looks so much better than I expected ! Respect from France ✌️

@peternotpeter Жыл бұрын

Beautiful Job Dan! thank you for the many, many tips you have provided. I'd like to see that reverse headstock again, the one you loved so much on one of your next builds.

@JoeTheGuitarGuy96 Жыл бұрын

Amazing work Dan. I'm speechless with how you made this neck. Especially the stain, it really gave the wood a "roasted" maple look, which complements the body perfectly. 👍

@ATthemusician Жыл бұрын

The absolute hardest part of building string instruments is the neck joint and neck. What I actually did was have neck and fretboard templates CNCd for me at a local machine shop after designing them on the FreeCAD program. There's a workbench on it called Marz guitar, where you can punch in the specs down to the millimeter for a multiscale neck of virtually any size. I've only had my 7 string neck templates completed but also have 6 and 8 string neck templates ready to be made as well. That definitely took a lot of the load off of building consistent guitars.

@fredgonzalez6619 Жыл бұрын

Hey man, thanks again for yet another GREAT, informative video. I appreciate it soooo much! Happy New Year man!!!

@ACMusicland Жыл бұрын

Wonderful video. Thanks for putting it together. I'm gaining some confidence in a spring project after watching.

@ssmbssmbssmb 5 ай бұрын

Hi, this episode is excellent and very help full. I have just made a cigar box guitar and I think I messed up everything. I just believe that my neck is straight and flat without sight and check the flatness ( I don't know how to do it ). I think that most of beginners or session DIY enthusiast won't have or think twice investing machine tools. Please make more videos like this. Thanks bro.

@jomamma1750 Жыл бұрын

That neck sounds great! Well done Sir.

@andrewjeffries8721 Жыл бұрын

Awesome. Just awesome. You have a great plan, you use simple tools, you creatively overcome a mistake and you finish it so that the grain looks awesome. For me, the fretboard needs the large contrasting block inlays (like my Jazz bass) but you built a neck that looks great and has great intonation. Thank you, Dan!!! You rock, bro! I consider myself schooled. 🙂

@Santacroce73 Жыл бұрын

Awesome job Bro! Came out great.

@titmusspaultpaul5 8 ай бұрын

Great finished product, and it looks fantastic. Very well done.

@StandTallTx Жыл бұрын

Dude you did an AWESOME job on that! That first coating really brought the whole thing to life.

@DefenderTIM Жыл бұрын

Nicely done! Looks awesome :)

@CaptainPantys Жыл бұрын

Dude. Not only did you save me with your super in depth floyd rose installation tutorial, now you're showing me why it's better to make your own neck. I'll needs a few more tools, like a fret saw and angle grinder.... But I was gonna get those anyways for the swords I cast. You are a mad genius. As a wood worker I can say your method is totally bonkers and I'm about it. Gold dude. Pure Gold.

@roberthatten Жыл бұрын

Awesome job

@freesk8 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks!

@JordiRestrepo 2 ай бұрын

Amazing video. Thanks !!! 🤩

@gothridercreations Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this one man, will be using a few of those tips for this year's GGBO build 😀

@KingBespokeCreations Жыл бұрын

I never cut fret slots before radius! Just using a saw, cutting after the radius mean the slot is the correct depth all the way across

@noahbecker1082 Жыл бұрын

What kind of saw do you use?

@KingBespokeCreations Жыл бұрын

@@noahbecker1082 it’s a crimson fret saw. But any saw with approx .023” kerf will work👍

@bntaft5133 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dan. Love my Guitar Authority strings.

@jacknorton3771 Жыл бұрын

If you don't toot your own horn no one else will. Awesome video both parts . I learned so much and I am looking forward to building my own neck. Thanks for the inspiration and education. Most appreciated.

@Brandonfunky Жыл бұрын

Epic work again Dan. This video worth over million views for people who wants to build their own guitars with budget tools. Thank you so much.

@AllanCorona Жыл бұрын

man! I loved the Stu Hamm riff! awesome neck! 🤙

@hellskreamer 8 ай бұрын

im going to attempt to build an 8 string guitar, after watching this i feel confident i can do it. Very nice videos!!

@johnstone4411 Жыл бұрын

Dean Zelinski founder of Dean guitars was doing a textured neck a few years ago but the texture was more like the checking pattern from a gunstock

@mbontekoe3358 Жыл бұрын

having made the router template for creating the radius you can use this together with a Dremel to cut the fret slots to a set depth and you can cut blind fret slots easily

@madatterguitars2547 Жыл бұрын

Great video series Dan. On your next neck totally remove the masking tape from the truss rod before fitting the fretboard to prevent the tape showing on the back. You could also use a thin piece of veneer instead of masking tape just on the truss rod.

@TMFShooting Жыл бұрын

Excellent , Very Good 👍

@brunolevasseur Жыл бұрын

Thx for sharing it! ✌👍👍👍🙏

@barracudafighter79 Жыл бұрын

Thank you thumbs bro👍

@catzdollz9810 Жыл бұрын

Amazing!💖

@Bjmusic2491 Жыл бұрын

This is a amazing project building a bass neck so it will be interesting if you can build a neck out of a darker wood such as mahogany or Rosewood

@MetalMan1245 Жыл бұрын

Amazing.

@o.w.dobbins6927 Жыл бұрын

That is one beautiful maple neck, love the grain!! You know that your'e going to have the high dollar luthiers hating on you now, LOL!! Awesome job Dan!

Жыл бұрын

one day I'll build a neck and this video will surely come in handy :)

@BBGuitars Жыл бұрын

You can pick up those blocks for only a few bucks on ali express for anyone looking to keep it low budget ✌

@tomfoolery2082 Жыл бұрын

And it sounds good too .

@ambond012581 6 ай бұрын

Have you ever thought of using tritium night sight vials for fret dots? Viable solution for locating fret dots on a dark stage!

@MrGwg11 Жыл бұрын

Glad the "mIsTaKe" buffed out. you are a beacon of perseverance, and an excellent craftsman!

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@MrDaveKC Жыл бұрын

I really enjoy the look of that neck. I never thought about doing texturing on the back on the neck, but I can sure see how that could matter on stage, especially when it's dark. Since I primarily play at church, lighting isn't an issue. That multiscale is quite interesting, and I haven't built my own neck yet. Maybe soon. The design and technique for doing the neck is very interesting. I got a tool off Amazon for the edge, similar to what you used and it's like $11. It actually has an angle built in and I really like it. So very cool, and yes, I'm thinking of my own future neck work.

@MrDaveKC Жыл бұрын

CB Gitty is a Cigar Box guitar supplier, and they have some decent stuff, although I'm not really into Cigar Box guitars. But a Fret wire is a Fret Wire.

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome you found that tool for $11? That’s as cheap as a decent file. And you’ve basically made a neck, you profiled that mandolin neck, and the neck profile is the hard test part!

@MrDaveKC Жыл бұрын

@@GunsandGuitars Yeah, just don't look at some of the mistakes I made on it... :p

@normbarrows Жыл бұрын

Congratulations. Sounds great, looks great. Flamed maple, multiscale, and a nicer finish for about the same price. Did you put the whammy on the fretwork too?

@Slothclawcolseslaw 9 ай бұрын

Dark dots on a light board is a lot easier to see than light dots on dark in dim lighting.

@ArcanoiseProgRock Жыл бұрын

Great video as usual Dan. Just one curiosity, are you planning in future to build a neck-thru bass?

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

Definitely. I prefer bolt on myself, especially as a builder, but I know that people like neck through basses.

@antonkarpov4262 Жыл бұрын

Super

@cloudie_eye Жыл бұрын

The texturing on the back would be perfect for me, I’m completely blind, and often get lost past the 8 fret if I’m not paying attention.

@normbarrows Жыл бұрын

What approach would you use for a more conventional type of neck and fingerboard build for a shreder guitar? You have to leave a few mil on top of and behind the truss rod for strength. So the depth of the channel determines how thin a profile you can get. So a deep truss rod like you used on that bass would be less than ideal. How would you get around the whole "fretboard blanks are expensive" and "no bandsaw" issue? I currently mod Ebay Ibanez type replacement necks to 20mm thickness, trapezoid profile w/ 10mm spine, and a 40mm x 90mm triangular heel which is 20mm thick (same as the rest of the neck, IE a flat heel). Complete necks and the blanks, truss rod, and fretwire to make one are about even in cost, at around $35 to $55. I've been getting these necks for 3 years now with no quality issues. I don't generally do multiscale builds and feel no strong need to use stainless frets on my builds (been playing 43 years without them), so "better woods" is about the only justification I have for building vs buying.

@karemare6426 Жыл бұрын

Great video despite the mistakes! But that textured neck will be hella difficult to play, I'm sure. Feeling those surface bumps will make a lot of unnecesssary processing power blocked in the back of your brain :)

@Jul-wt5kd Жыл бұрын

Can I use a normal preslotted bass nut if the multi scale is that subtile ?

@jeff1407 Жыл бұрын

This is amazing. Going to try one on some cheap maple then go for it on an expensive piece. Any suggestions on a saw to cut the fret slots?

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

I use the one from crimson, but any fret saw will work. The nice thing about a fret saw is that it’s just a saw so you can use it for sawing any wood project you have. But the reason I recommend a fret saw is because the blade is thinner (less than .5mm) where most coping saws or miter saws are a tad bigger. They can be used, but you will absolutely need to glue your frets really good.

@jeff1407 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dan. Also, what do you think about those double sided Japanese pull saws to cut the neck down vs the drop blade technique with the circular saw? I can see myself screwing that up royally. I was thinking of doing the long cut then an angle cut and just filing the profile instead of the jigsaw at the heel. Thoughts?

@eyeofamon Жыл бұрын

Never before seen a multi-scale that subtle. Interesting. Which fret is the parallel/un-slanted?

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

12th, just so it’s an even .25” offset at both the nut and bridge.

@chacha134 Жыл бұрын

This is awesome! Did you use a damp paper towel to wipe the glue off when you put the frets in or just a dry paper towel? Also any good affordable replacement guitar and bass necks you recommend?

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

I used dry this time because I had built up a really good finish to repel the glue. But if I just have one coat of shellac or none, you need it damp. As for affordable necks, the quality is going down hill which is why I’ve started making my own. You can roll the dice, any neck under $100 will have a 50/50 change of being usable. I need 100% now.

@chacha134 Жыл бұрын

@@GunsandGuitars awesome thanks! And yeah I figured with the affordable necks, wanted to ask since it’s a pain in the but to make. I’ve had luck fixing up the necks on a couple kits I’ve put together but always on the look out just in case. Great videos as always!

@tomtallic Жыл бұрын

Yeeeeeessss

@tombrackettjr.9308 Жыл бұрын

Dan is there anyway to salvage a neck that you have taken too much material off the Fidel’s in spots? I have a really nice pice of walnut and I now know my big mistake is I started with way too thick of a piece almost 2” thick. By continuing to hake adjustments it is too narrow in a couple spots

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

There are no rules. Maybe try glueing on some thin strips of wood and then profiling it again?

@rontoomey8082 Жыл бұрын

Nice job!! So, you don't need Fret Tang Nipper Tool??

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

Need is a strong word. They are extremely helpful, but no you can definitely get by without them as I demonstrated.

@mbontekoe3358 Жыл бұрын

You can cut stainless steel frets with a Dremel disc (no I am not sponsored)

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

Great idea!

@joeballs5669 Жыл бұрын

hi ...did you put any fall away in the upper frets or fingerboard ? thanks dan

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

I always do this when doing fretwork. I explain it in several of my older videos. But I think next week I’m going to do an updated video on my whole process for fretwork.

@seancca Жыл бұрын

I am pretty sure even with a zero fret you can’t get away without not having a nut otherwise the strings will just kinda move around too freely.

@GunsandGuitars Жыл бұрын

They’d still be held in place by the tuners, it doesn’t add that much more length, and the break angle will help hold it. I think it’s worth a shot. Worst case I just use a nut or string retainer

@seancca Жыл бұрын

@@GunsandGuitars will be interesting to see if you can make it work! At least saves you a step, though not like it would be had for you to throw a nut on if it wants to be wonky. Haha